So confident is Cambridgeshire County Council that they will strike a deal to acquire land needed for the £16.5million Kings Dyke crossing at Whittlesey, the green light has been given to start phase one on February 19.

A couple who run a business giving wildlife talks to schools and children’s parties has vowed to carry on despite being refused permission to keep their growing collection of animals at their parents farm.

The mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has told the chairman of Network Rail that more trains should stop in Whittlesey – and says he is disappointed that the new Soham station will not be opened earlier.